Problems of diagnosis and treatment of the rupture of the rotator cuff with the glenohumeral arthritis

Nine patients with the glenohumeral arthritis and the rupture of the rotator cuff were operated and histopathologically diagnosed as just nonspecific inflammation of the glenohumeral joint. Mild infection has been doubted in all patients before the operation due to the roentgenoraphical and arthrographical findings, including demineralization, joint space narrowing, osseous destruction of glenoid, synovial irregularty and shadows of lymph channels and nodes.During the operation, we considered that these extra and intraarticular findings in glenohumeral joints were not degenerative in natue and related to septic process, although the repeated cultures of the aspirates were negative and long-standing massive cuff tear and glenohumeral instability causes loss of articular cartilage and secondary synovitis.The problems of the diagnosis and the treatment of nine patients were discussed in detailed.